SAVE GIRL CHILD
In a world marked by progress and innovation, it is disheartening to confront a deeply rooted and persistent issue – the skewed gender ratio, particularly the declining number of girls. The global campaign to save the girl child has gained momentum over the years, shedding light on the consequences of gender-based discrimination and advocating for gender equality. In this article, we will explore the significance of saving the girl child and highlight some pertinent data that underscores the urgency of this cause.
The Declining Girl Child Ratio
Sex Ratio in India: India, a country known for its rich cultural diversity, has been grappling with a skewed sex ratio for decades. According to the 2011 Census, there were 943 females for every 1,000 males, a decline from 2001 when the ratio was 933 females per 1,000 males. This drop is a clear indication of the persistent challenges surrounding gender discrimination and female infanticide.
Female Feticide: The practice of female feticide remains a grave concern. According to the United Nations, it is estimated that around 2 million female fetuses are selectively aborted each year in India. This alarming trend robs society of countless potential contributors to its progress and development.
Gender Equality: Gender equality is not just a moral imperative; it is also crucial for social and economic development. Empowering girls and women can lead to higher literacy rates, increased workforce participation, and enhanced economic productivity.
Health and Nutrition: The neglect of female children often results in inadequate access to healthcare and proper nutrition. Saving the girl child ensures that she receives the essential care she needs to lead a healthy life.
Education: Every girl deserves access to quality education. Educated girls become empowered women who can make informed decisions about their lives, families, and communities.
Economic Impact: Investing in the education and well-being of girls leads to a more skilled and productive workforce, contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction.
Social Harmony: A society that values and protects its girl children fosters a culture of respect, dignity, and harmony.
Steps Toward Change
Awareness and Advocacy: Raising awareness about the importance of saving the girl child is the first step. Advocacy campaigns, both at the grassroots and national levels, play a crucial role in changing perceptions and attitudes.
Education: Ensuring access to quality education for girls is pivotal. Scholarships, mentorship programs, and initiatives to eliminate gender-based discrimination in schools are essential.
Legal Framework: Enforcing and strengthening laws against gender-based discrimination and female feticide is imperative. Deterrents include harsher punishments and better enforcement.
Community Engagement: Engaging with communities to challenge harmful norms and traditions is crucial. Grassroots initiatives that involve local leaders, parents, and elders can be effective in changing mindsets.
VSJ Foundation: A Beacon of Hope for the Girl Child
In the global crusade to protect and empower the girl child, organizations like the VSJ Foundation have emerged as beacons of hope and catalysts for change. Founded on the principles of gender equality and social justice,
the VSJ Foundation is dedicated to safeguarding the rights and well-being of girls across communities. Through its multifaceted initiatives, the foundation is actively contributing to the cause of saving the girl child.
Conclusion
Saving the girl child is not just a social responsibility; it is an ethical imperative. The skewed gender ratio and gender-based discrimination perpetuate cycles of inequality that hinder social progress. By investing in the well-being, education, and empowerment of girls, we not only secure a brighter future for them but also for our societies and nations as a whole.
It is time to heed the call to action and work collectively to ensure a world where every girl child can thrive and fulfill her potential.
The existence of human life on the earth is impossible without the equal participation of both women and men. They are equally responsible for the survival of the human race on the earth. They are also liable for the development and growth of a nation. However, the existence of the woman is for more important than men. Because without her we cannot think about our existence. So, to save humans from extinction we have to take measures to save girl child.
It’s a common practice in India where people abort or kill girl child on birth. But, they should be saved given equal opportunity, and respect and opportunity to go ahead in life. Apart from that, the fate of civilization lies in their hand as they are the root of our creation.
Why does the Girl Child Need Saving?
There is various evil in our society; one of which happens to be the desire to have a boy. In Indian society, everyone wants an ideal mother, sister, wife, and daughter. But they never want that girl to be his blood relative. Besides, there are other social evils in society that forces many parents to avoid having a girl child. These other social evils are dowry deaths, female feticide, and some others.
What Girls Can Do?
Although girls are ahead of boys in many fields but still people prefer a boy child. Girls have proven themselves better in every field than boys. And due to their hard work and dedication, they have been to space also. They are more talented, obedient, hardworking, and responsible for the family and their life. Besides, girls are more caring and loving towards their parents. Above all, they give 100% in every work.
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Following are the Steps Taken by the Indian Government to Save Girl Child
For saving girl child the government has taken many initiatives and launched many campaigns to save them. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the girl child) is the most recent initiative started by the government to actively encourage people to save the girl. Apart from that, many NGOs, companies, corporate groups, human rights commission run various campaign to save girl child.
The crime against women is a big barrier to the development and growth of the country. However, the government takes this problem seriously and for stopping female feticide they have banned the sex determination ultrasound, amniocentesis, and scan tests in the hospitals and labs. The government takes all these steps aware society that girls are a gift of God and not a burden.
Our Participation
For saving girl the first step starts with our own home. We should encourage our family members, neighbor, friends, and relative to save them and make other people aware of it. Also, we should cheer our family member to have a girl child rather than a boy.
.A girl child deserves a life where she is treated as equal to a boy. And she should be loved and respected like others. She participates in the development and growth of the nation equally. Besides, she works hard for the betterment of society and country. They have also proven their worth and stand equal to boys in every field. Hence, they deserve to survive as their survival means the existence of the human race.
FAQs on Save Girl Child
Q.1 Why the girl child needs saving?
A.1 Girls are very strong and determinant and can take care of themselves. But, due to social evils and unawareness, people kill them that’s why they need saving.
Q.2 Which initiative is taken by the government to save girl child?
A.2 The most recent initiative by the government is Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao which aims to save and educate the girl child.
Reasons for this initiative[edit]
Sex-selective abortion or female foeticide has led to a sharp drop in the ratio of girls born in contrast to boy infants in some states in India. Ultrasound technology has made it possible for pregnant women and their families to learn the sex of a foetus early in a pregnancy. Discrimination against girl infants, for several reasons, has combined with the technology to result in a rise in abortions of foetuses identified as female during ultrasonic testing.
The trend was first noticed when results of the 1991 national census were released and were confirmed to be a worsening problem when results of the 2001 national census were released. The reduction in the female population of certain Indian states continues to worsen, as results of the 2011 national census have shown. It has been observed that the trend is most pronounced in relatively prosperous regions of India.[15] The dowry system in India is often blamed; the expectation that a large dowry must be provided for daughters for them to marry is frequently cited as a major cause for the problem.[citation needed] Pressure for parents to provide large dowries for their daughters is most intense in prosperous states where high standards of living, and modern consumerism, are more prevalent in Indian society.[citation needed]
Rates of female foeticide in Madhya Pradesh are increasing; the rate of live births was 932 girls per 1000 boys in 2001, which dropped to 918 by 2011. It is expected that if this trend continues, by 2021 the number of girls will drop below 900 per 1000 boys.[16]
Support[edit]
The Govt of India has formed a National Executive Committee to promote Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) across the country. The committee is organizing several programs to promote "Save Girl Child" and "to Educate Girl Child" since January 2015. Dr. Rajendra Phadke is the National Convener of BBBP Abhiyan. [citation needed]
The Beti Bachao campaign is also supported by the Indian Medical Association.[17]
Movie based on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao[edit]
In August 2023 a movie Titled ‘Panch Kriti’ - Five Elements based on Swachh Bharat Mission was released in India which featured five stories and is set in Chanderi in Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh, has been largely shot in real locations. It was a women-centric film that touches upon several important themes and topics pertaining to women. It also delves into the importance of social movements taking place in India like ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’ and ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhaao Abhiyaan’.[18]
Effectiveness[edit]
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reported that the scheme failed to meet its objectives. As per the CAG data, the sex ratio has deteriorated in many districts of Haryana and Punjab. According to the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, only ₹5 crores of a total of ₹43 crores allotted for the scheme in the financial year 2016-2017 was properly used.[19]
As per the government data, more than 56% of funds were spent on publicity from 2014-15 to 2018-19. Less than 25% of the funds were released to districts and states, and the government did not release more than 19 percent of the funds. Minister of state Ministry of Women and Child Development, Virendra Kumar Khatik, claimed that the sex ratio in 53 out of 161 districts under the scheme declined between 2014–15 and 2016-17. According to experts, the scheme's minimal success is due to the government's inability to release funds efficiently and its disproportionate focus on publicity rather than making initiatives in the health and education sectors.[20]
- Parliamentary committee on the Empowerment of Women, in Lok Sabha, [21]
In 2021, in Lok Sabha, according to the Parliamentary committee on the Empowerment of Women, 78.91% funds for 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' were spent on ads.[21]
In 2020, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, in a written response to the upper house, stated that during the current financial year, 96.71 crore rupees have been spent on advertisements for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme until September 17. She mentioned that in the financial year 2019-20, 23.67 crore rupees were spent, in 2018-19, 160 crore rupees, in 2017-18, 135.71 crore rupees, in 2016-17, 29.79 crore rupees, in 2015-16, 24.54 crore rupees, and in 2014-15, 18.91 crore rupees were spent on advertisements for this scheme. Irani also stated that in August, the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) had evaluated the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, which indicated a positive change in behavior towards girls. [22]
